MERL Officer (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning) at World University Service of Canada

The MERL Officer provides technical leadership and expertise for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) activities to support the STEP project. The role ensures that MERL systems are robust, data-driven, they are aligned with the decision-making processes along the program cycle, and that learning is continuously captured and used for adaptive management. The MERL Officer contributes to the design and implementation of MERL frameworks, provides oversight to research and evaluations, supports capacity building within the project team and partners, and contributes to planning and reporting.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Technical MERL Leadership

• Contribute to the implementation of project level MERL frameworks, theories of change, and logical frameworks.
• Ensure alignment of MEL activities with partner implementation strategy, donor requirements, and organizational good practices.
• Support baseline, midline, and endline assessments, and oversee evaluations and consultancies.

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Regular use of MEL tools, systems, databases, and dashboards to track progress against indicators.
• Ensure high standards in data quality, management, analysis, and visualization.
• Conduct advanced analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and generate actionable insights for program teams and leadership on salesforce/through dashboards.
• Support learning agendas, research initiatives, and integration of adaptive management approaches.

Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Support the preparation of high-quality MEL deliverables including indicator reports, evaluation reports, donor reports, and learning briefs.
• Document success stories, case studies, lessons learned, and evidence of impact.
• Coordinate learning dissemination internally and externally, including facilitating reflection workshops, after-action reviews, and learning events.

Capacity Building and Staff Supervision

• Organize and facilitate training on MEL concepts, tools, and systems for program and partner staff.
• Contribute to the organization's capacity for evidence-based programming and decision-making

Coordination and Representation

• Represent the MERL function in internal and external meetings, working groups, and other engagements as needed.
• Liaise with implementing partners, consultants, and stakeholders to ensure coordination and alignment on MERL priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree  in a relevant field or equivalent mix of education and experience;
• At least 5 years of experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation of development programs;
• Demonstrated experience working in refugee, displacement-affected, or fragile contexts and applying conflict-sensitive and context-responsive approaches.
• Experience with Results Based Monitoring concepts and principles is required. 
• Demonstrated experience in safeguarding, PSEA, protection mainstreaming, and do-no-harm approaches, including risk identification, mitigation, and referral considerations.
• Experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods and tools for data collection and analysis is required;
• Experience working with ethnically diverse communities and with projects implementing gender mainstreaming strategies; 
• Experience with open source data collection tools and data management softwares (preferred); 
• Demonstrated experience working in refugee, displacement-affected, or fragile contexts and applying conflict-sensitive and context-responsive approaches (asset).